If you go through the regular Amazon-only distribution channels, you can expect 60% of the list price for every paperback sold. Each comes with its own royalty structure, and in both cases, the cost of printing the book is deducted from royalty payments.

How do print royalties work?įor those thinking about self-publishing a print book, Amazon offers two distribution tiers for self-published paperbacks. If you enroll in KDP Select, the list expands to include Brazil, India, Japan, and Mexico. Don’t worry, the 70%-eligible territories include all the big Anglophone markets - the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand - in addition to several others, primarily in the EU. Additional copies sold outside those territories will go on the 35%. Keep in mind that only books sold to customers in certain countries are eligible for the 70% plan. This doesn’t require any extra effort on your part - the delivery fees are automatically deducted from your royalty payments. This price also needs to be at least 20% lower than the lowest list price for a print version.

Price your ebook between $2.99 and $9.99.

Publish something that’s not in the public domain.

To be eligible for the 70% plan, you’ll need to do all of the following: How do ebook royalties work?Īmazon offers two ebook royalty plans: the 70% option and the 35% option. Now let’s talk about the program’s ebook and print royalty plans - which, as you can imagine, are pretty different from one another.

See the full list of payment thresholds here.

For check and wire payments, you’ll be paid only after you make a certain amount in royalties (for instance, $100 in USD and CAD and £100 in the UK). In terms of which payment method is best for you, you should know that there’s no payment threshold for direct deposit. So if you have bills to pay, make sure you’re not counting on your royalties coming in right away. However, no matter which avenue you go down, there’s no way to receive your royalties any sooner than 60 days. Depending on where you do your banking, you can elect to be paid through direct deposit - also known as Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) - wire transfer, or check.

Click to tweet! When does Amazon pay royalties to authors?Īmazon starts paying royalties 60 days after the first sale is made, with further payments coming through every month.

Amazon kindle direct publishing sign in